Hi, Kid Lit Friends!
With all the news and war going on in the world, it is so hard to know what to say or feel. My kids and I frequently have conversations about what we read about in the news. Now that they are teenagers, they read the paper daily and have lots of questions about so many things. I am thinking about and sending love to all of the many people in this world who are suffering because of acts of war and terrorism.
One of my big comforts in difficult times is food: reading about food from many cultures, preparing food, and sharing food. Later on in this newsletter, I share some of my favorite children’s books on this topic.
Bookish Goods
Booooks T-Shirt by DaisyApparelArt
Get into the spooky spirit by wearing this adorable, bookish ghost tee. Better yet, wear this tee while reading Remy Lai’s new graphic novel, Ghost Book! $8+
New Releases
Watership Down: The Graphic Novel by Richard Adams, adapted by James Sturm and illustrated by Joe Sutphin
This gorgeously illustrated graphic novel will be sure to delight fans of the classic as well as bring in new enthusiasts. I can’t wait for young readers to be introduced to this epic tale of rabbit adventure, perseverance, and bravery.
Vlad, the Fabulous Vampire by Flavia Z. Drago
I always love Flavia’s picture books, but this one is particularly delightful. Vlad is a vampire who wants to fit in. Who doesn’t? So he always wears black, but what he really wants to wear is PINK! Fashion is his passion, after all. But will people still like him if he reveals who he really is?
For a more comprehensive list of new releases, check out our New Books newsletter.
Riot Recommendations — Food Edition
Two New Years by Richard Ho, illustrated by Lynn Scurfield
This beautiful picture book follows a family who celebrates two New Years: Rosh Hashanah in the fall and Lunar New Year in the spring. The book is so beautifully written. My favorite spread has these two sentences: “They represent different peoples with different histories, cultures, and traditions. But in many ways, they are also alike.” The book continues to share the many similarities between the two New Year celebrations, including the different foods they eat.
Masala Chai, Fast and Slow by Rajani LaRocca, illustrations by Neha Rawat
I spent a couple of weeks in India back in early 2000, and I remember vividly the chai tea that I purchased daily from train platforms and street vendors. Reading this book brought me back to that delicious, fragrant tea. In this story, a young boy loves to do things fast, fast, fast! And his grandfather tends to do things slow, slow, slow — including making masala chai. Can Aarav learn to slow down so he can make tea as delicious as his grandfather does?
Chinese Menu: The History, Myths, and Legends Behind Your Favorite Foods by Grace Lin
In this mouthwatering book, Grace Lin creates an epic collection of stories behind fabulous Chinese dishes! Earlier this year, I joined Grace for a meal at Peking Duck House with some fellow authors and our editor, and she entertained us with all the stories behind what we were eating. This illustrated full-color book is a real treat!
Bilal Cooks Daal by Aisha Saeed, illustrated by Anoosha Syed
Bilal can’t wait to introduce his friends to his favorite food: daal! But as he helps prepare the food, he begins to question whether his friends will like it as much as he does…
What are you reading these days?
Let me know! Find me on X at @KarinaYanGlaser, on Instagram at @KarinaIsReadingAndWriting, or email me at KarinaBookRiot@gmail.com.
Autumn is here, which means it’s time to curl up with a great read and get cozy — whatever your version of cozy looks like. Whether it’s romance, creepy reads, modern classics, or escapist reads you crave, TBR can help you find the perfect books for your fall reading, with options curated to your specific reading tastes. For more information, click here!
Happy reading!
Karina